Category: Main

Decided to try and activate ZL-0026 as the weather was fantastic. Headed off mid-morning and arrived just after mid-day. Overlooking Auckland city. Using the FT-897d with linked dipole and decided to use 40 meters as I noted the SOTA guys had been doing well on the band. Took a couple of hours to make the contacts needed as towards the end the band became dead. Only needed one more contact to make the ten required so it was down to 80 meters during the day with a mate south of me, around 350 KMH, band was open enough to make the contact but only just although the station was 5/9 however he was having issues receiving my audio.

All in all, it was a successful activation and a great day had. Thanks to all for the contacts

Appreciated!  

Its official I have it as a Scheduled Activation, local park up the road detail to follow once I have attempted an activation, needed 10 contacts so cross fingers! Will more than likely add 60 meters as well and possibly more bands pending on conditions….. Watch this space!

Decided to drive to Clarks Beach this evening to operate portable for a sched I join in on each Saturday evening at 2000hrs. Thought it would be a good place as I used to live here and it was always quiet along with it being out of the city the bands also would be very quiet to which they had been.

Set up didn’t take long as it was the Wolf River Coil I was to use, spread the radials out in an area that had been closed off due to it being a grassed area over looking the sea and due to the rain we have been having it had been marked off limits to vehicles. It was dark while erecting the antenna but that was fine as had lighting etc so worked well.

Was somewhat unsuccessful with both ZL3WT and VK4DN although I did have a copy on VK4DN however due to his noise level I wasn’t making it over, I was decided to try in an hour so I had a play and tried 40 meters with ZL2WR, his station was 5/9 good copy most of the time however he struggled to hear me…..

Then it was all on as I was sitting in my vehicle another vehicle shot up in front of me up over my radials and over the other side of the grassed area! Lot’s of noise coming from the vehicle as they had been parked up then shortly after doughnuts on the grass area and some yelling, got out and went to have a look and abuse yelling from the vehicle looked like they had been drinking so decided it wasn’t worth the grief and packed up station after checking radials of antenna.

Enjoyed it until this happened, just goes to show you can’t go anywhere to escape clowns!

Thanks to all three stations that had kept in contact to ensure my safety all the way until I made the 50 minute trip back home.

Parks on the air (POTA) is now active in ZL Have been working with the guys in the states to get this sorted and it is now live, Check out the site and go active! Similar to SOTA. If your interested give it a go, should be lots of fun!

It’s easy to register and get active.

Spur of the moment thought – Portable operations Cockle Bay (Auckland) before work. Headed off as it’s just over a 30 minute drive from home QTH (without traffic)

Arrived and had to wait for others to move as I wanted to setup where people take their boats out so I was to the side, away from everyone, not that there were many around as they were all out in the bay trying to find their 50 cockle limit… Not for me as I think you have to be hungry 🙂

Decided to give the Wolf River Coil 1000 TIA a go, started off with 40Mtrs then 80Mtrs, noise level on 40 was great however on 80 a little had been about but not that bad. Heard Mike ZL2WR, however Mike couldn’t hear myself, just bad conditions, as soon after Mike dropped out as well. Gave it a go with ZL3WT but nothing heard, maybe another day. Enjoyed, as it just gets me used to deploying the antenna and getting to find that tuning sweet spot, thanks for trying guys!

Spent a couple of hours today tuning the Wolf River Coil (WRC) with antenna analyzer at the beach, below is some initial readings of the standing wave ratio (SWR) will update once I do the rest of the bands, so far so good although it does take time, All bands so far is great although a dip on the 80 Meter band but that’s expected considering it’s a coil.

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Ordered and received the Wolf River Coil Silver Bullet 1000 Antenna, Problem is we have been having rain every day sine I received it! Went out for a short time to have a play (Tuning) however you guessed it rain……. So will just have to wait a little longer to try this antenna out.

The quality of the product is great, very well made and looks like it should last for years. The company is great to order from as it’s a two man company so you get great service. Will update soon once I can get this up and running….

Greetings,

I acquired my Ham Radio License in early 90’s Limited (ZL2UXO) studied and passed my Morse so upgraded to full. (ZL1MY) This call sign was originally my Grandfathers so was good to be able to take this over. In the beginning I was active on both 2 meter’s and 70 Centimeters with a home brew 12 element ZL special for 2 meters and a vertical for 70.

Later I acquired a TS-120S and begun to be active on HF running a 4 element tri-band beam. Also involved with SSTV which enjoyed at the time.

Since I have moved around due to work and had been inactive for a period of time I have since became active again on HF and running mobile gear, purchased a FT-857D and have a FT-897D, running vertical antenna’s on the vehicle, ATAS-120a multi band vertical for HF and dual band vertical for UHF/VHF

Have also become active on the digital modes, DMR & D-Star although mostly on DMR, great modes and helps when you can’t have antenna’s up at the QTH.

Decided to get into portable operation and purchased the Sotabeam 20-30-40 and 80 meter dipole, this works great with the help of the Spiderbeam 12m fiberglass pole HD

I have been working with the guy’s in the US so that we can get Parks On The Air (POTA) active here in New Zealand (ZL) hoping to get this active soon, it’s popular in the states and hopefully people will get involved in it here as they do with Summits On The Air (SOTA)

I have also ordered the Silver Bullet 1000 TIA (take it along) antenna, thanks to K8MRD RADIO STUFF as Mike was testing this on his YouTube channel I strongly suggest taking a look at Mike’s channel as it’s great to see the testing etc he does. I’m hoping this will allow for even quicker antenna deployment in the field, they have some great reviews on this antenna.